From this we see that it was the passing through the pieces that caused the covenant to be binding. In the case of the covenant cut between God and Abraham, we discover that it involved Abraham's participation -- he prepared the pieces and drove the vultures away (vs. 10-11), but when it came to the binding part, the time to pass through the pieces, God caused a stupor to fall upon Abraham, and Abraham himself was not allowed to pass through the pieces. "And it came about when the sun had set, that it was very dark, and behold, there appeared a smoking oven and a flaming torch which passed between these pieces" (v. 17). Two parties passed through the pieces, but neither of them was Abraham. It is my contention (i believe that it is our contention) that these were two of the members of the Trinity: the Father and the Son. The Father representing his end of the covenant and the Son representing Abraham's. This is the Father saying to Abraham through the Son that God would honor his promise. And this is the Son saying to the Father on behalf of Abraham, I will honor Abraham's responsibilities. Of course Abraham, and his descendants, would fail to keep the covenant -- his descendants, that is, excepting one: Jesus the Christ, the one with whom the covenant was cut. And so we see that the covenant with Abraham was fulfilled not by Abraham but by his Representative, Jesus Christ, and in this the covenant is unilateral in that God's promise was contingent upon God's fulfillment of the covenant -- enter Emanuel.
Bill
Excellent -- Gal. 3:16-22-29 seems to be a passage that has a great deal to do with what has been written: "Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and his seed. He does not say, "And to seeds." as referring to many, but rather to one, "And to your seed," that is Christ. What I am saying is this : the Law which came four hundred and thirty years later, does not invalidate a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to nullify the promise ................the Law .. was added ... until the seed would come to whom the promise has been made ............so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe ............. for all who were immersed into (eis) Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ ... and if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's descendants, heirs according to promise."
The many seeds find their blessing IN the single or one Seed. Please forgive what must appear as an effort to half-sole Bill's fine exposition. It is just that the light has been on, for some time, but only dimly -- just now the connection has been hardwired and suddenly burns bright.
Thanks Bill.
Jd
